Efficacy of a nurse-led multidimensional preventive programme for older people at risk of functional decline. A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: to verify the efficacy of a multidimensional preventive programme on functional decline of older people. Design: randomized controlled trial. Setting: community of Sherbrooke City, Quebec, Canada. Subjects: a representative sample of individuals aged over 75 living at home and identified to be at risk of functional decline by postal questionnaire (n=503). Intervention: subjects randomized to the study group (n=250) were assessed at home by a nurse on 12 dimensions (including medication, depressive mood, risk of falls, hearing). A report of the assessment was sent to the general practitioner with recommendations for interventions. A monthly telephone contact was carried out by the nurse for surveillance and to verify if the recommendations had been applied. Methods: the primary outcome—functional decline—was defined as either death, admission to an institution or increase of ⩾5 points on the disability score of the Functional Autonomy Measurement System (SMAF) scale during the reference year. Secondary outcomes were functional autonomy (on the SMAF), well‐being (General Well‐being Schedule), perceived social support (Social Provisions Scale) and use of health care services. Results: of the 494 subjects who completed the study, 48 (19.6%) of 245 in the study group and 49 (19.7%) of 249 in the control group had functional decline (relative risk 1.00; 95% confidence interval 0.82–1.23). There were no differences between the groups in all secondary outcomes. Conclusions: this study confirms the inefficacy of multidimensional programmes for preventing functional decline in the older population. More effort should be devoted to improving the efficacy of specific interventions for conditions causing functional decline.